Miyajima Island Itsukushima Shrine

What to do on Miyajima – Overnight Stay and Day Trip Guide!

Updated Spring 2025!

Just a ferry ride away from Hiroshima mainland is a small island known as Miyajima or Itsukushima. This peaceful piece of land is famous for its beautiful floating torii gate, nature spots (Mt. Misen and Momijidani Park), seafood, and deer. Visitors flock to Miyajima to get away from the city bustle and experience luxurious ryokan stays and scenic views.

The area is easily accessible from central Hiroshima or Kyushu, making it a great day trip destination or place for a weekend stay. For the most magical experience, I recommend booking a room and staying the night, as the evening low tide with Itsukushima Shrine in the background and morning tranquility is a sight that can’t be beat.

For those traveling to Miyajima for the first time, here are some of the top things to do during your trip!

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Things to do on Miyajima Island

Visit Itsukushima Shrine (Day and Night)

Miyajima is famous for its floating torii gate and sprawling vermilion shrine that kisses the water’s edge. The tori gate stands about 16 meters tall and is one of the biggest wooden torii gates in Japan. Itsukushima Shrine is a designated World Heritage site and offers iconic Japanese views of water, mountains, and the torii gate in the water. Several locations are good for viewing the shrine, so spend some time walking along the water and soaking up the view.

Travel in Japan - Miyajima

You can buy tickets to enter the shrine and see the floating torii gate straight on.

Most people visit Itsukushima Shrine during the daytime, but I believe that the most beautiful times are at night, once the water has receded, and in the morning, when few people are about on the island. When the tide is low, you can walk right up to the torii gate. It’s rare to find a shrine like this in Japan, so it’s my top reason to stay the night and enjoy the sight!

Next to Itsukushima Shrine is a five-storied pagoda on a hill that stretches 27 meters into the air.

As of early 2025, this pagoda is currently under renovation and is covered by scaffolding.

Hike up Mt. Misen

For energetic nature lovers, a hike up Mt. Misen is a must. There are several paths that lead to the top of the mountain, one located by Momijidani Park, another by Daishoin Temple, and the last further away on the island. (I recommend hikers take the path up by Daishoin Temple as it has a nicer elevation gain and views compared to the other trails.

The climb is pretty challenging, and there are many steep stairs along the way. A seasoned hiker may take about 1-1.5 hours to reach the top.

Mt Misen Hike, Miyajima Island

Close to the summit, the trail leads through several important Buddhist structures, including Misenhondo and Reikado, which hold the Eternal Flame. At the top of the mountain, you will be rewarded with views of the water below and Hiroshima mainland sprawled out in front of you. The observatory at the top closes at 4 pm, so place your hike accordingly.

Ropeway to Mt. Misen

If you want to get to the top without hiking, you can take the ropeway up most of the way. There is a small observation point next to the ropeway, but if you want to reach the main observatory and the area with the Eternal Flame, you’ll need to trek uphill for about 30 minutes.

The lines for taking the ropeway up and down can be very long, so plan your time accordingly. The ropeway also halts operation under certain weather conditions, so check the website for details before factoring it into your day.

The ropeway entrance is located near Momijidani Park. One-way fares are ￥1,100 for adults and ￥550 for children. Read more information about taking the ropeway here.

Explore Daishoin Temple

Daishoin Temple is an important temple belonging to the Shingon Buddhism sect. It is located at the base of Mt. Misen and is home to over 500 Buddha sculptures (adorned with the cutest red hats!) Climb the steps up this sacred temple and spin the cylinders that are inscribed with Buddhist scriptures.

Daishoin Temple, Miyajima

Ring the massive bell and view the Henjokutsu Cave, where hanging lanterns shine an eerie light on hundreds of small statues.

Daishoin Temple is a beautiful temple that is intertwined with the nature around it and has many small spaces to discover.

Stone buddha sculpture at Daishoin Temple, Miyajima

After wandering around the precincts, you can take the nearby trail that leads up to the top of Mt. Misen for a wonderful view of the area around Miyajima.

Near the entrance of the Shrine is a small cafe that serves drinks and vegan dishes like vegan ramen and vegan curry. It’s a great place to relax before or after your visit!

Eat Fresh Oysters on Omotesando Street

If you’ve come all the way to Miyajima Island, you will want to try some of the island fare. Prices are a bit on the expensive side – it is a popular vacation/tourist destination even for Japanese people – but make sure you still try an oyster or two.

Yakigaki no Hiyashi – 焼がきのはやし　

Restaurants on Miyajima serve oysters in a variety of ways: fried, boiled, over rice, raw, etc. On the main Omotesando Shopping Street, you will find an island favorite, Yakigaki no Hiyashi ( 焼がきのはやし).

This restaurant is known for its high-quality grilled oysters, which are grown until they are at least three years old.

As a specialty seafood restaurant located in the heart of a tourist destination, prices here are unsurprisingly high. However, the exciting thing is that the lunch sets allow you to enjoy oysters prepared in various ways, all in one meal.

For example, one of the sets comes with two raw oysters, two grilled oysters, three fried oysters, oyster rice, miso soup, and pickled veggies for ¥3,000 (~$27). It wasn’t the most filling of meals (I guess I’m used to eating lots of oysters), but I found everything to still be delightfully tasty. Read more about Yakigaki no Hiyashi.

Kaki Fuku Maru (かきふくまる）

For a no-fuss oyster meal, head over to Kaki Fuku Maru. This little oyster shop is small and can only seat about six customers at a time. Since it’s still pretty cramped to sit, most customers just stand outside and eat. Kaki Fuku Maru’s specialty is grilled oysters with a variety of toppings. Butter garlic is my favorite, but I also enjoyed the spicy oil and miso flavors.

Compared to the oyster huts in Itoshima, where you can get ~12 oysters for ¥1,000, the prices on Miyajima are much, much higher. Nevertheless, if you are on the island, I still recommend grabbing an oyster or two and enjoying their tasty freshness.

For more food recommendations on the island, check out this Miyajima Food Guide!

Taste Fried Momiji Manju

Momiji Manju is Miyajima’s famous confectionery that is shaped like a maple leaf (called momiji in Japanese). This cake-like dessert is traditionally made with a red bean paste filling, but many stores sell an assortment of other fillings like custard, apple, chocolate, and chestnut.

hakataya fried momiji manju

Hakataya on Omotesando Shopping Street (as well as several other shops) takes the traditional Momiji Manju one step further by serving it deep-fried! They call this version Miyajima Jakee.

The added crunchy exterior and steaming filling make for a snack that is better than the original, in my opinion. My favorite flavor is the peach! Warning: Be VERY careful when eating, as the insides can be piping hot.

Stroll in Momijidani Park

If you are looking for a great place to see fall foliage in Japan, look no further than Momijidani Park on Miyajima Island. Around November, the park sparks to life with trees blanketed in vibrant hues of yellow, orange, and red. Even if you plan your visit outside of Momiji season, Momijidani Park is still a nice place to take a stroll in. If you are headed to Mt. Misen, the cable car entrance and one of the hiking paths are both located near the park.

Sip on Miyajima Craft Beer

Finding yourself craving a cool drink while walking around? Not to worry, Miyajima Brewery has you covered. This brewery specializes in craft beer.

The first floor has a small space for standing and drinking, while the 3rd floor has a great view and offers more of a restaurant vibe.

Small, regular, and large drink sizes are available, but for those who are indecisive (or just excited to try more than one beer), you can enjoy a flight of any three pours.

Relax in a Luxurious Ryokan

For the ultimate luxury experience, you will want to stay at a ryokan (Japanese-style inn), which comes with beautiful Japanese rooms, full-course meals, and attached bathing facilities. Miyajima Grand Hotel Arimoto is located just 3 minutes from the main shrine and is a beautiful place that does not disappoint. The rooms are large, and the provided dinner and breakfast meals highlight Miyajima and Hiroshima fare. The hotel also offers morning and night walks to explore the areas. (In Japanese)

Rooms at Hotel Arimoto
Rooms at Hotel Arimoto

For a simpler and more affordable stay, you can consider Sakuraya. While it’s not fancy like Miyajima Grand Hotel Arimoto, it is located conveniently by the water, right by the ferry port. It has quaint Japanese-style rooms and a small public bath you can enjoy during your stay. (Meals are not provided at Sakuraya, so you’ll want to make dinner reservations in advance.)

Simple Japanese-style room at Sakuraya

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, the above list has given you some ideas for how to plan your next trip to Miyajima. Enjoy the fantastic scenery the area has to offer, and remember to keep your food away from the deer!

For more about Miyajima Island, check out these posts!

Nearby Miyajima Island

Wondering what to do before or after your trip to Miyajima Island? If you’re on your way to Hiroshima, make sure to visit the Hiroshima Peace Park, Hiroshima Castle, and feast on the region’s famous okonomiyaki. From Miyajima Island, you can take a special ferry that drops you off right at the Hiroshima Peace Park.

Hiroshima Castle, lens ball

If you want to stay close to Miyajima, but not on the island itself, the Grand Prince Hotel Hiroshima is a good option. This hotel hosted the G7 Leaders during the Hiroshima Summit in 2017 and has sweeping views of the waters below from the 23rd-story restaurant and bar. There is a dock right next to the hotel with ferry service that runs directly to Miyajima. This hotel is further from the main part of Hiroshima City, but it is a good place to stay for easy access to the island and wonderful views.

If you want to explore a different region of Japan, then hop on a Shinkansen and continue south to Kyushu. In Kyushu, you can find cozy onsen towns, places with beautiful beaches and bike routes, and delicious food galore. Learn about Kyushu adventures below!

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